Heatley role to help Northland councils combine

Phil Heatley is the Northland Regional Council's new special projects manager.

Phil Heatley's new job as Northland Regional Council's "special projects manager" was tailor-made for him to help smooth the way for local government amalgamation.

The council's chief executive Malcolm Nicolson said he created the job with the former Whangarei National MP's skills and experience in mind.

Mr Heatley's job includes the building management portfolio but will initially concentrate on special projects - specifically, easing the way into shared services between Northland councils. The wide-scope job also includes the role of "continuous improvement manager", to promote Northland effectively in local government and national forums.

Mr Nicolson said he designed the role when he heard Mr Heatley was considering employment options, and after Local Government Commission's (LGC) announcement it wanted to continue with the reform process in Northland. Local Government Minister Paula Bennett also announced last month the Government wanted integrated local governance models to avoid regional duplication.

The NRC special projects position was not part of the initial staff restructure proposal of earlier this year but was incorporated in the final stages, Mr Nicolson said. The job was not advertised and nor was there any legal obligation to do so, he said.

In the 11-page job description, Mr Heatley is required, "to monitor, examine and evaluate the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency of specific aspects of local government provision and performance and to undertake property-related work and special projects assigned by the CEO".

He will be part of the senior level chief executive support unit formed as part of the recent management changes. Mr Heatley said he was excited about the job, but could not comment about how it was developed or the recruitment process.

Warren Slater, an outspoken watchdog of local politics, said he is not surprised the "special project" is the National Party's plan for amalgamating local government.

"I think it's National's way to control what happens in local government in Northland because they didn't get their own way over amalgamation," Mr Slater said, referring to 2013's failed push by the Far North District Council to have the LGC order a Northland unitary authority.

Mr Slater said he is also concerned that a senior NRC role was not publicly advertised.

"In my opinion, any job in local government or the public service should be advertised."

Mr Slater said he has been "suspicious" for some time of what he saw as close ties between the National Government and the NRC.

"It concerns me that central Government is trying to manipulate local government," he said.